News

Good progress being made on flooding works

THE Environment Agency says it is making good progress inspecting and repairing flood defences damaged during the winter storms and floods.

More than 100 flood defence structures including river banks, pumping stations, sluices, gates and beach defences were damaged earlier this year in Somerset and Dorset.

The Agency says it is working “flat out” to ensure repairs are completed on time and all its defences are in full working order and ready to protect communities from any future flooding.

Robbie Williams, for the Environment Agency, said: “We are targeting and prioritising repairs where there is the greatest flood risk, with the aim to complete work before winter. This will ensure they are ready for any heavy rain and high tides.”

Dredging of the Rivers Parrett and Tone is on target for completion by October.

Repairs are also due to start at Allermoor Spillway.

The contractor, Team Van Oord, have been appointed to repair the damaged defences.

Comments (9)

So the Environment Agency are on target with their repairs, it's a good job they have enlisted Contractors team Van Oord to carry out the Works. The E Agency spokesperson, Robbie Williams for the Agency during the recent flooding, wasn't answering any questions posed to him @ that time. When faced with direct questions from myself and others on the Banks of the River Parrett, and at the Moorland Pumping Station.
I am afraid that I have little confidence in the Agency, and their approach to the previous two years of flooding.
The 20 yr Somerset Levels and Moors Flood Action Plan, are now ready for
Adoption, my concerns are that the Environment Agency, will not impliment these plans to their best intention, without having Partners, such as the Internal Drainage Board, overseeing and agreeing the works.
After all it was without a doubt, the Agencies failure to act quickly enough that our Levels and Moors, with the Villages therein flooded.
This can not happen again, ever !!!!!
David L Preece
Blue - Owl

So the Environment Agency are on target with their repairs, it's a good job they have enlisted Contractors team Van Oord to carry out the Works. The E Agency spokesperson, Robbie Williams for the Agency during the recent flooding, wasn't answering any questions posed to him @ that time. When faced with direct questions from myself and others on the Banks of the River Parrett, and at the Moorland Pumping Station.
I am afraid that I have little confidence in the Agency, and their approach to the previous two years of flooding.
The 20 yr Somerset Levels and Moors Flood Action Plan, are now ready for
Adoption, my concerns are that the Environment Agency, will not impliment these plans to their best intention, without having Partners, such as the Internal Drainage Board, overseeing and agreeing the works.
After all it was without a doubt, the Agencies failure to act quickly enough that our Levels and Moors, with the Villages therein flooded.
This can not happen again, ever !!!!!
David L Preece
Blue - OwlBlue Owl

Blue Owl wrote:
So the Environment Agency are on target with their repairs, it's a good job they have enlisted Contractors team Van Oord to carry out the Works. The E Agency spokesperson, Robbie Williams for the Agency during the recent flooding, wasn't answering any questions posed to him @ that time. When faced with direct questions from myself and others on the Banks of the River Parrett, and at the Moorland Pumping Station.
I am afraid that I have little confidence in the Agency, and their approach to the previous two years of flooding.
The 20 yr Somerset Levels and Moors Flood Action Plan, are now ready for
Adoption, my concerns are that the Environment Agency, will not impliment these plans to their best intention, without having Partners, such as the Internal Drainage Board, overseeing and agreeing the works.
After all it was without a doubt, the Agencies failure to act quickly enough that our Levels and Moors, with the Villages therein flooded.
This can not happen again, ever !!!!!
David L Preece
Blue - Owl

Tory budget cuts,thousands of EA workers being made redundant.
Which part of this don't you understand Blue Owl??

[quote][p][bold]Blue Owl[/bold] wrote:
So the Environment Agency are on target with their repairs, it's a good job they have enlisted Contractors team Van Oord to carry out the Works. The E Agency spokesperson, Robbie Williams for the Agency during the recent flooding, wasn't answering any questions posed to him @ that time. When faced with direct questions from myself and others on the Banks of the River Parrett, and at the Moorland Pumping Station.
I am afraid that I have little confidence in the Agency, and their approach to the previous two years of flooding.
The 20 yr Somerset Levels and Moors Flood Action Plan, are now ready for
Adoption, my concerns are that the Environment Agency, will not impliment these plans to their best intention, without having Partners, such as the Internal Drainage Board, overseeing and agreeing the works.
After all it was without a doubt, the Agencies failure to act quickly enough that our Levels and Moors, with the Villages therein flooded.
This can not happen again, ever !!!!!
David L Preece
Blue - Owl[/p][/quote]Tory budget cuts,thousands of EA workers being made redundant.
Which part of this don't you understand Blue Owl??Boring

Blue Owl wrote:
So the Environment Agency are on target with their repairs, it's a good job they have enlisted Contractors team Van Oord to carry out the Works. The E Agency spokesperson, Robbie Williams for the Agency during the recent flooding, wasn't answering any questions posed to him @ that time. When faced with direct questions from myself and others on the Banks of the River Parrett, and at the Moorland Pumping Station.
I am afraid that I have little confidence in the Agency, and their approach to the previous two years of flooding.
The 20 yr Somerset Levels and Moors Flood Action Plan, are now ready for
Adoption, my concerns are that the Environment Agency, will not impliment these plans to their best intention, without having Partners, such as the Internal Drainage Board, overseeing and agreeing the works.
After all it was without a doubt, the Agencies failure to act quickly enough that our Levels and Moors, with the Villages therein flooded.
This can not happen again, ever !!!!!
David L Preece
Blue - Owl

Tory budget cuts,thousands of EA workers being made redundant.
Which part of this don't you understand Blue Owl??

Environment Agency, wasted resources, Bird and Wild life Sanctuaries created, renovation essential River maintenance work not done, Budget cuts, but not withdrawn, trimmed, still monies allocated for preventative work., I would call It Busget overview of the Environment Activities and Scope of their remit.
Environment Agency Senior Management, Incompetent, still not answered .??
As to why all of a sudden the Silt and sludge, is now not contaminated any more, for 8 years they lied about it being contaminated and unable to be removed, as was under EU. law Contaminated and therefore could not be placed on the land, as requested by the farming community.

David L Preece
Blue - Owl

[quote][p][bold]Boring[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Blue Owl[/bold] wrote:
So the Environment Agency are on target with their repairs, it's a good job they have enlisted Contractors team Van Oord to carry out the Works. The E Agency spokesperson, Robbie Williams for the Agency during the recent flooding, wasn't answering any questions posed to him @ that time. When faced with direct questions from myself and others on the Banks of the River Parrett, and at the Moorland Pumping Station.
I am afraid that I have little confidence in the Agency, and their approach to the previous two years of flooding.
The 20 yr Somerset Levels and Moors Flood Action Plan, are now ready for
Adoption, my concerns are that the Environment Agency, will not impliment these plans to their best intention, without having Partners, such as the Internal Drainage Board, overseeing and agreeing the works.
After all it was without a doubt, the Agencies failure to act quickly enough that our Levels and Moors, with the Villages therein flooded.
This can not happen again, ever !!!!!
David L Preece
Blue - Owl[/p][/quote]Tory budget cuts,thousands of EA workers being made redundant.
Which part of this don't you understand Blue Owl??[/p][/quote]Environment Agency, wasted resources, Bird and Wild life Sanctuaries created, renovation essential River maintenance work not done, Budget cuts, but not withdrawn, trimmed, still monies allocated for preventative work., I would call It Busget overview of the Environment Activities and Scope of their remit.
Environment Agency Senior Management, Incompetent, still not answered .??
As to why all of a sudden the Silt and sludge, is now not contaminated any more, for 8 years they lied about it being contaminated and unable to be removed, as was under EU. law Contaminated and therefore could not be placed on the land, as requested by the farming community.
David L Preece
Blue - OwlBlue Owl

Blue Owl - Unfortunately I get the distinct feeling you are trying to avoid answering the points raised in my posts but I will give you the benefit of the doubt. As you are still interacting on the forum thought I might remind you so this was my reminder:

Blue Owl - hope you had a nice weekend. Good to see you have started a new debate about the EA and IDB here but would be grateful if you would also respond to my posts regarding the barrier and Liz Truss comment on the other thread and also the points I raised on the Tesco thread

The Liz Truss thread is not on the front page any more but not a problem here is the link

Please be courteous enough to give a proper response and reply directly to the points made.

Blue Owl - Unfortunately I get the distinct feeling you are trying to avoid answering the points raised in my posts but I will give you the benefit of the doubt. As you are still interacting on the forum thought I might remind you so this was my reminder:
Blue Owl - hope you had a nice weekend. Good to see you have started a new debate about the EA and IDB here but would be grateful if you would also respond to my posts regarding the barrier and Liz Truss comment on the other thread and also the points I raised on the Tesco thread
The Liz Truss thread is not on the front page any more but not a problem here is the link
http://www.bridgwate
rmercury.co.uk/news/
11371128.Environment
_Secretary_Liz_Truss
_visits_Somerset/
Please be courteous enough to give a proper response and reply directly to the points made.Itsmeagen

Itsmeagen wrote:
Blue Owl - Unfortunately I get the distinct feeling you are trying to avoid answering the points raised in my posts but I will give you the benefit of the doubt. As you are still interacting on the forum thought I might remind you so this was my reminder:

Blue Owl - hope you had a nice weekend. Good to see you have started a new debate about the EA and IDB here but would be grateful if you would also respond to my posts regarding the barrier and Liz Truss comment on the other thread and also the points I raised on the Tesco thread

The Liz Truss thread is not on the front page any more but not a problem here is the link

http://www.bridgwate

rmercury.co.uk/news/

11371128.Environment

_Secretary_Liz_Truss

_visits_Somerset/

Please be courteous enough to give a proper response and reply directly to the points made.

You won't get an answer. Having read these threads regularly it is very apparent that this individual has been caught bang to rights over his British Jobs for British Workers Facebook comment and Tessa Munt comments.

Its pretty typical of a Politician ( well in his mind anyway) but he will constantly avoid any issues for which he does not have the answers, or where the answer will not portray him in a good light !!

[quote][p][bold]Itsmeagen[/bold] wrote:
Blue Owl - Unfortunately I get the distinct feeling you are trying to avoid answering the points raised in my posts but I will give you the benefit of the doubt. As you are still interacting on the forum thought I might remind you so this was my reminder:
Blue Owl - hope you had a nice weekend. Good to see you have started a new debate about the EA and IDB here but would be grateful if you would also respond to my posts regarding the barrier and Liz Truss comment on the other thread and also the points I raised on the Tesco thread
The Liz Truss thread is not on the front page any more but not a problem here is the link
http://www.bridgwate
rmercury.co.uk/news/
11371128.Environment
_Secretary_Liz_Truss
_visits_Somerset/
Please be courteous enough to give a proper response and reply directly to the points made.[/p][/quote]You won't get an answer. Having read these threads regularly it is very apparent that this individual has been caught bang to rights over his British Jobs for British Workers Facebook comment and Tessa Munt comments.
Its pretty typical of a Politician ( well in his mind anyway) but he will constantly avoid any issues for which he does not have the answers, or where the answer will not portray him in a good light !!'tis true

When will you, and the other posters here realise, that like yourselves, I am free to ' Comment' and post give my opinion on any subject here and in other Forums , such as Facebook, I am posting a Personal held veiwpoint, I am not an Elected Councillor, but as always I point out my previous 8 years in Local Government. Which, having dealt with these issues over that period, has given me an in-sight, so that. I am in a position to post with knowledge. Whether, you like what I post or not.
I do not, repost your 'Comment' expecting you to clarify your Remarks, and justify them, as you seem to want me to!!
Whether you or anyone agree's with my post is not the reason I write them, it is to put a different perspective, and in most cases, to add substance to the debate, of course I am going to take the Political Stance from a Conservative Veiwpoint, as that is who I am, an individual with the ability to form an opinion. Whether, I stand for re-election or not, is for me to make the decision, at the relevant time, for next years District and Town Council local Elections. As is the right of every one, I would like to think that those who oppose my views, would have the commitment to stand up for what they believe in, and put themselves forward as Candidates, but alas No!! It is easier for them to Hide behind Pseudonyms, and criticise, my Grammer and Capitalisation, in these, light-hearted, sometimes tongue in cheek, responses, I make.
When I play Devils Advocate!! On local Important Issues.( Well to my Mind they are important, which is to why I make the Posts.
David L Preece
Blue-Owl

When will you, and the other posters here realise, that like yourselves, I am free to ' Comment' and post give my opinion on any subject here and in other Forums , such as Facebook, I am posting a Personal held veiwpoint, I am not an Elected Councillor, but as always I point out my previous 8 years in Local Government. Which, having dealt with these issues over that period, has given me an in-sight, so that. I am in a position to post with knowledge. Whether, you like what I post or not.
I do not, repost your 'Comment' expecting you to clarify your Remarks, and justify them, as you seem to want me to!!
Whether you or anyone agree's with my post is not the reason I write them, it is to put a different perspective, and in most cases, to add substance to the debate, of course I am going to take the Political Stance from a Conservative Veiwpoint, as that is who I am, an individual with the ability to form an opinion. Whether, I stand for re-election or not, is for me to make the decision, at the relevant time, for next years District and Town Council local Elections. As is the right of every one, I would like to think that those who oppose my views, would have the commitment to stand up for what they believe in, and put themselves forward as Candidates, but alas No!! It is easier for them to Hide behind Pseudonyms, and criticise, my Grammer and Capitalisation, in these, light-hearted, sometimes tongue in cheek, responses, I make.
When I play Devils Advocate!! On local Important Issues.( Well to my Mind they are important, which is to why I make the Posts.
David L Preece
Blue-OwlBlue Owl

Blue Owl wrote:
When will you, and the other posters here realise, that like yourselves, I am free to ' Comment' and post give my opinion on any subject here and in other Forums , such as Facebook, I am posting a Personal held veiwpoint, I am not an Elected Councillor, but as always I point out my previous 8 years in Local Government. Which, having dealt with these issues over that period, has given me an in-sight, so that. I am in a position to post with knowledge. Whether, you like what I post or not.
I do not, repost your 'Comment' expecting you to clarify your Remarks, and justify them, as you seem to want me to!!
Whether you or anyone agree's with my post is not the reason I write them, it is to put a different perspective, and in most cases, to add substance to the debate, of course I am going to take the Political Stance from a Conservative Veiwpoint, as that is who I am, an individual with the ability to form an opinion. Whether, I stand for re-election or not, is for me to make the decision, at the relevant time, for next years District and Town Council local Elections. As is the right of every one, I would like to think that those who oppose my views, would have the commitment to stand up for what they believe in, and put themselves forward as Candidates, but alas No!! It is easier for them to Hide behind Pseudonyms, and criticise, my Grammer and Capitalisation, in these, light-hearted, sometimes tongue in cheek, responses, I make.
When I play Devils Advocate!! On local Important Issues.( Well to my Mind they are important, which is to why I make the Posts.
David L Preece
Blue-Owl

So are you going to answer itsmeagain's polite question then oh great one?

[quote][p][bold]Blue Owl[/bold] wrote:
When will you, and the other posters here realise, that like yourselves, I am free to ' Comment' and post give my opinion on any subject here and in other Forums , such as Facebook, I am posting a Personal held veiwpoint, I am not an Elected Councillor, but as always I point out my previous 8 years in Local Government. Which, having dealt with these issues over that period, has given me an in-sight, so that. I am in a position to post with knowledge. Whether, you like what I post or not.
I do not, repost your 'Comment' expecting you to clarify your Remarks, and justify them, as you seem to want me to!!
Whether you or anyone agree's with my post is not the reason I write them, it is to put a different perspective, and in most cases, to add substance to the debate, of course I am going to take the Political Stance from a Conservative Veiwpoint, as that is who I am, an individual with the ability to form an opinion. Whether, I stand for re-election or not, is for me to make the decision, at the relevant time, for next years District and Town Council local Elections. As is the right of every one, I would like to think that those who oppose my views, would have the commitment to stand up for what they believe in, and put themselves forward as Candidates, but alas No!! It is easier for them to Hide behind Pseudonyms, and criticise, my Grammer and Capitalisation, in these, light-hearted, sometimes tongue in cheek, responses, I make.
When I play Devils Advocate!! On local Important Issues.( Well to my Mind they are important, which is to why I make the Posts.
David L Preece
Blue-Owl[/p][/quote]So are you going to answer itsmeagain's polite question then oh great one?freddie_mercury_undercover_reporter

The longer answer is I won' say anything that will incriminate my fellow tories who are responsible for budget cuts and so are responsible when everyone gets flooded again and that dave didn't really mean that there was any money in the pot for Somerset, we intend to spend it all on the south east where proper tory voters live

I think the short answer to the above question is no.
The longer answer is I won' say anything that will incriminate my fellow tories who are responsible for budget cuts and so are responsible when everyone gets flooded again and that dave didn't really mean that there was any money in the pot for Somerset, we intend to spend it all on the south east where proper tory voters livethe voice of common sense

Blue Owl - Disappointing. I was under the impression a forum is for the purpose of debate. The fact is the impression you give is that you are opinionated, think you know best and you lead people to believe you do not have the ability (or current knowledge) to respond to relevant issues raised by me or other members of this forum directly.

You say you are adding 'substance to the debate', however the one thing you do not do is debate - apart from this one we are having, that is unrelated to the original posts of course.

You say you are in a position to 'post with knowledge', but this is still your interpretation of that knowledge and therefore your personal opinion.

You keep reminding us of your time as a Councillor and your great experience, which counts for nothing if you do not use it objectively. Just because you have 'insight' does not mean that what you say is correct.

If you want to become a Councillor again surely you need to demonstrate you have the ability to debate in a rational manner, and you are clearly not demonstrating that here. Times have changed.

Your opinion is not the be all and end all of everything. I wonder if you have the same attitude you demonstrate on here in your day to day life. If you have then it is not surprising you did not get re-elected. If you think you are using this site as a political platform you are probably doing yourself more harm than good.

True people don't use their own identity on here so from time to time you could be at loggerheads with your own political chums at the Council - worth thinking about. If there are any malicious comments made anonymously you can always report them to the site moderator.

So, did not want to go down this road but who likes being ignored. I will leave it at that.

Finally you can of course prove me wrong and respond in a rational manner, not necessarily agreeing to the issues previously raised but by putting forward a structured rational argument that relate to the autumn statement regarding the flood barrier and the Tesco question.

Blue Owl - Disappointing. I was under the impression a forum is for the purpose of debate. The fact is the impression you give is that you are opinionated, think you know best and you lead people to believe you do not have the ability (or current knowledge) to respond to relevant issues raised by me or other members of this forum directly.
You say you are adding 'substance to the debate', however the one thing you do not do is debate - apart from this one we are having, that is unrelated to the original posts of course.
You say you are in a position to 'post with knowledge', but this is still your interpretation of that knowledge and therefore your personal opinion.
You keep reminding us of your time as a Councillor and your great experience, which counts for nothing if you do not use it objectively. Just because you have 'insight' does not mean that what you say is correct.
If you want to become a Councillor again surely you need to demonstrate you have the ability to debate in a rational manner, and you are clearly not demonstrating that here. Times have changed.
Your opinion is not the be all and end all of everything. I wonder if you have the same attitude you demonstrate on here in your day to day life. If you have then it is not surprising you did not get re-elected. If you think you are using this site as a political platform you are probably doing yourself more harm than good.
True people don't use their own identity on here so from time to time you could be at loggerheads with your own political chums at the Council - worth thinking about. If there are any malicious comments made anonymously you can always report them to the site moderator.
So, did not want to go down this road but who likes being ignored. I will leave it at that.
Finally you can of course prove me wrong and respond in a rational manner, not necessarily agreeing to the issues previously raised but by putting forward a structured rational argument that relate to the autumn statement regarding the flood barrier and the Tesco question.Itsmeagen